2 Types of Sea Lions in Washington

California sea lions and Steller sea lions occupy the same Washington waters but are surprisingly easy to tell apart once you know what to look for. California sea lions are smaller (males 7-8 feet, females 5-6 feet), sleeker, and dark brown to black, with a pronounced forehead and pointed snout. They are vocal and curious, often seen in large, noisy groups on docks and rocks. Steller sea lions are bulkier and heavier (males up to 11 feet, females 8 feet), lighter tan to cream-colored, with a broader head and less tapered snout. In the water, Californias are more agile and playful; Stellers are more deliberate and massive. Stellers are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act due to population declines, so their presence is monitored closely.

California sea lions are the most frequently sighted species, documented in over 1,399 observations across the state from iNaturalist records. Steller sea lions account for roughly 1,050 sightings, making them nearly as common in Washington waters but often less visible because they spend more time at sea. Both species haul out on rocks and docks, though California sea lions tend to dominate human-accessible spots like marinas and tourist viewing areas. Stellers prefer more remote rocky islands and offshore pinnipeds. Northern fur seals show up occasionally (5 sightings) and remain rare in Washington, generally during winter months when they drift south from Alaska.

California sea lions congregate at docks, piers, and near-shore rocks in Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, and around the Olympic Peninsula. Port Angeles, the San Juan Islands ferry routes, and the Ballard Locks in Seattle are reliable spots for viewing them up close, though they can be unpredictable and may leave if disturbed. Steller sea lions prefer more remote locations: Destruction Island, Copalis Island, and the outer coast near Cape Flattery are traditional haul-outs, though they are less reliably visible than Californias. Most Steller observations in Washington come from boats and offshore viewings rather than shore-based locations.

California sea lions are extremely vocal, producing barks, growls, and honks that carry long distances. On land or rock, their clumsy locomotion creates distinct patterns: they rotate their hind flippers forward under their body and 'walk' or 'gallop' in an almost dog-like manner. In the water, they are agile and perform frequent turns and rolls. Steller sea lions are quieter, though adult males produce deep roars and bellows during breeding season. Their gait on land is heavier and more labored due to their larger mass. Neither species leaves distinct tracks on typical viewing beaches (rocky shores), but their scat (droppings) appears as whitish or tan deposits on rocks and can be smelled from a distance.

Northern fur seals are extremely rare in Washington, with only 5 verified iNaturalist observations across the state's entire sighting record. These are typically transient individuals or juveniles drifting south from their breeding grounds in the Bering Sea and North Pacific. If you spot a northern fur seal, it will be much smaller than a sea lion (around 4-6 feet for males, 3-4 feet for females), with a stockier build and dark brown-to-black coloring. Its ears will be more prominent (external ear flaps) compared to sea lions, which have ear holes. Northern fur seal presence in Washington is so uncommon that any sighting is worth reporting to wildlife agencies.

Sea lions are pinnipeds, as are seals and fur seals, but they represent distinct branches of the pinniped family tree. Sea lions have external ear flaps (pinnae) and can rotate their hind flippers forward, giving them a dog-like gait and superior land mobility. Seals, by contrast, have ear holes (no external flaps) and cannot rotate their rear flippers forward, so they move in a caterpillar-like undulation on land. Fur seals split the difference: they have external ears and can rotate their rear flippers, but are generally smaller and stockier than sea lions. In Washington waters, you are most likely observing sea lions (the two main species), with fur seals appearing rarely if at all.

Look for smaller size (head fits your hand if held up to the image), dark brown or black coloring (often appearing uniformly dark), and a tapered snout that comes to a point. The head profile should show a steep forehead and a visible 'bump' or sagittal crest on top. Males are noticeably larger and may have a maned neck. Females are more streamlined and lighter brown. In the water, California sea lions are spry and acrobatic, often seen swimming sideways or inverted. If you see one on a dock or piling looking alert and inquisitive, it is almost certainly a California sea lion rather than a Steller, which tends to avoid populated areas.

Steller sea lions are unmistakably large and bulky, with a massive head and massive body. They appear light tan, yellowish, or pale brown, lighter than California sea lions and more uniform in tone across the body. The snout is blunt and broad, not tapered. The neck is thick without a pronounced mane even in males. In profile, the head appears wider and the overall shape is more barrel-shaped, especially in adult males. If a sea lion looks like it could weigh 2,000+ pounds, it is almost certainly a Steller. On land, their movement is slow and cumbersome; in the water, they are powerful swimmers but less playful and agile than Californias.